Celtic kicked off their Europa League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Red Star in Belgrade. On paper it’s a decent result, considering the strength of the opponent, but it also drags up an uncomfortable fact: the Scottish club hasn’t managed an away win in UEFA competition since November 2021. That run is now at 15 games without victory, nine of them defeats and six ending in draws.
Kelechi Iheanacho opened the scoring early in the second half, making an instant impact right after stepping onto the pitch. The lead didn’t hold, though. Red Star responded with real force on set pieces and soon pulled level. From there the match stayed balanced, chances falling at both ends, yet once again Celtic couldn’t turn effort into that long-awaited away win.
Rodgers values the point but reveals contradictions
Brendan Rodgers chose to underline the positives afterward. “I think it’s a good start for us. Of course we want to win every game, but to come here, get a point, and still feel disappointed not to have won is something we can build on.”
He didn’t hide the flaws either. “We were too passive and couldn’t keep the ball in the final third.” It was an honest line, but it also exposed a familiar problem. Celtic have struggled to play with edge away from home for years, and simply recognizing it doesn’t solve the pattern.
Substitutions that shifted the game
Rodgers explained why he turned to Iheanacho. “I brought Kelechi on because he’s a good reference point for the team. I know he can hold the ball up.” The change paid off right away: the striker scored and gave the attack fresh energy. Another highlight was 19-year-old Colby Donovan. “For a kid that age, coming into this kind of intimidating stadium, he played with real personality and has a toughness that makes him hard to beat.”
The manager had a point. Donovan walked into a hostile setting and played with maturity well beyond his years. He stood out on a night where the final score only reinforced the broader theme of Celtic’s European story.
A draw in Belgrade isn’t a disaster, but the streak hangs over them. Fifteen games without an away win is no small matter. Rodgers may call it a good start, may say there were chances to win, but the reality remains: Celtic still haven’t found a way to truly impose themselves on European soil outside Glasgow.